Ale-tap



(No Model.) A

' J. NEUMANN.

ALE TAP.

Y 41 PatentedMar. 21.1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN NEUMANN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ALE-TAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 494,016, dated March21, 1893.l

Application ile November 12, 1892. Serial No. 451,769. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN NEUMANN, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kingsand State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement inAle-Taps, of which the followirig is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to an improvement in taps or spigots for thetapping of ale or beer from casks, and particularly from those that arelocated in vaults or cellars, and are to be connected with a dispensingdevice in a room above vthe casks.

The object is to provide a simple, cheap and reliable tap, which will bemore durable than taps of ordinary construction, and which can berenewed or repaired in its parts liable to wear, at a low cost. V

To these ends, my invention consists in the construction and combinationof parts, as is hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side view of the improved ale tap. Fig. 2 is a top view ofthe saine. Fig. 3 is a plan view in section through the longitudinalaxis of the device, taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1. Fig.4 is atransverse sectional view, on the line 4-4 in Figs. 1 and 5. Fig. 5 is asectional plan 'view taken on the line 5--5 in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is aside view detached, of a portion of the plug valve forming part of theimprovement.

The tap shell A, that is, the part of the device which is to be driveninto a plugged hole lin a full cask, is by preference, cast into formfrom malleable metal, and as represented in Fig. 3, consists of anelongated hollow body, which is tapered from the point a, to theterminal end b, which latter is closed and designed to engage a plug orcork in a cask, when the shell A is to be driven into the hole lled bysaid cork,a series of holes b,being formed in the side wall of the partA, around it and near the end wall b.

Near the larger end of the part A, a transverse coniform wall B, isintegrally formed therewith, of suitable thickness for effectiveservice, and for an increase of strength atthe top and lower ends ofsaid wall, longitudinalribs c, are externally produced on each side,

and extend forwardly and merge into the nearly cylindrical hollow partC, of the device, which latter is axially coincident with the conicaltap-shell A, and is transversely apertured through opposite walls forthe introduction of a pipe connection D, which will be furtherdescribed.

There is a transverse wall d, provided for the chamber C, atits forwardend, from which two nearly parallel walls e, project on opposite sidesof the same, leaving an elongated space between these walls, which areforwardly joined together by a head wall j, designed to sustain theimpact of blows applied to drive the tap shell into a cask. The severalportions described, are integral members of the tap stock that is anessential part of the invention.

Within the slightly tapering circular passage afforded by the transverseconiform wall B, a conical joint sleeve E, is introduced,

which is formed of leather or vulcanized gumv fabric, said piece beingextended from near the top, or end of greatest diameter, to a shoulderg, on the wall B, as shown in Fig. 4.

The plug valve which is provided to control the discharge of liquid froma cask through the shell A, is composed of a slightly tapering shellthat is circularin cross section as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6,said pieceF having a radial iange h, at its large end, and an external thread atits small end h. Two opposite locking ears 1l are formed on the shell F,which project from it and are integral with the iiange h; these earshaving seats in shallow notches formed in the coniform wall B,oppositely at its upper edge, also enter opposite-notches in the upperedge of the joint sleeve E. The shell F, is made true on its innerconical surface, for the engagement therewith of a conical plug F',which is adapted to form a liquid-tight joint with the shell F, andproject above and below the latter as shownl in Fig. 4. Upon thethreaded lower end h of the shell F, a closely fitting nut h2, is placedand securely adjusted to bind the shell against the joint sleeve E, andproduce a liquid-tight joint between the coniform Wall B, and the shellF. The upper projecting en d portion of theplug F,is furnished with acrossbar le, of ordinary form, to adapt the plug for manipulation androtatable movement, and on IOO the lower threaded extension of the pluga spring washer m, and nut m', are placed, the latter serving to retainthese parts connected, and permit a proper contact of the plug with theshell F, to be produced. Similar slots n, of propercapac'ityare form edin the wall B, sleeve C, shell F, and plug F', which slots when inalignment afford a direct passage from the tap shell A, to the chamberC, the rotatable movement of the plug graduating the dimensions of saidpassage, or closing it entirely, as may be required.

The pipe connection D, before mentioned, consists of atubular piece of aproper length and such a relative diameter, as will allow it topenetrate the opposite circular apertures formed in the wall of thechamber C, for its reception, the degree of insertion being defined by acollar o that is formed or secured upon the tubular piece D, at a properpoint. A pliable washer o', made of any suitable ma terial, is placed onthe part D, in contact with the collar o, previous to the introductionof said part within the chamber C, on which the washer bears when theparts are securely connected. The inserted terminal of thetubularconnection D, is perforated and internally threaded therein to receive athu rnb-screw bolt D', and on the latter a pliable washer p, is placedfor the formation of a liquid-tight joint between the side of thechamber C and a collar p' formed on the head of the thumb screw. Asuitable number of perforationsr, are formed in the wall of the tubularpiece D, that is located within the chamber C when the part D is securedthereto, which holes are designed to afford a passage for ale or beerfrom a cask, through the tap stock and into the tubular piece D. Uponthe free end portion S, of the piece D, a metallic pipe or flexible hosemay be connected, preferably a pipe is used, to transfer the liquidpassing through the ale tap, to a dispensing apparatus at some distancefrom the cask that the improved device is inserted in, the junctionbetween the end portions of the piece D and said pipe being produced bysoldering or other suitable means.

When the improved ale or beer tap is to be inserted through a pluggedhole in a cask, the.

operator grasps the tap stock, and centers the end b, of the tap shellA, upon the cork or plug in the cask head, which closes a hole that isof such diameter as will allow this end portion of the tap shell to beinserted far enough within the cask to locate all the perforations hwithin the cask or keg. A suflcient nulnber of blows are struck by amallet upon the head wallf, to produce the insertion of the tap shell asstated; and in case the body of the head stock needs to be rotatablyadjusted to secure a proper position for the tubular connecting piece D,a lever may be introduced between the walls e, and pressed in the properdirection while the driving operation is in progress, which manipulationwill effect the desired result. The use of a lever will also affordmeans to remove` the improved ale tap from an empty cask withoutstriking its body with a mallet, as by inserting one end of the leverbetween the walls e, and vibrating its body, the tap shell A, will beloosened and may be withdrawn. The slightly grooved rings u, on theshell that afford a bite forit upon the wood of the cask when driveninto a perforation of the same, are easily released from their hold bythe means stated, and injury to the tap stock 1s avoided.

It is claimed for this improvement that the major portion ofthe device,which is ordinarily formed of brass or a like soft metal, that iscomparatively costly, is adapted for production from malleable iron or acheap soft steel, so that the cost of production 1s considerablyreduced. Furthermore, the peculiar form given the tap stock, disposesthe connection D, and plug valve F, F', at such a distance from the headwallf, that blows on the latter will not injuriously affect the partsthat are connected with the tap stock; andin case the plug valve needsrepairs to make it liquid-tight, it can be readily removed toconveniently effect this, or a new plug valve may be temporarily orpermanently combined with the plug stock, to make the ale tapserviceable, should wear render this necessary.

Another advantage possessed by the improvement, consists in the facilityafforded for a change of direction to be given the tubular connection D,as said part may be made to ext-end from either side of the tap stockthat may be most convenient fora direct connection to a conductor pipeleading therefrom, which is important in some situations, as it willavoid the use of a long curved pipe which might otherwise be required toreach the end portion of the connection D, whereon said conductor pipeis attached.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patentl. In anale tap, the combination withatap stocktapered at one end, and adapted to withstand percussion at the oppositeend, of a plug valve the shell of which is securable transversely in amating formation of the tap stock, and a transversely securable pipeconnection in achamber of the tap stock between the plug cock and theend of the tap stock which receives blows and adapted to receive liquidfrom the tapered part of said stock, substantially as described.

2. In an ale tap, the combination with a tap stock tapered at one endand laterally perforated near the terminal of said tapered part, andadapted to withstand percussion at the opposite end, of a plug valvesecurable transversely in the tap stock and removable therefrom, and atransverse tubular connecting piece securable in a chamber of the tapstock in advance of the plug valve and adapted for rotary adjustment,substantially as described.

3. In an ale tap, the combination with a tap IIO stock having a conicalend, a transverse oppositely slotted coniform Wall, and elongatedchamber adjoining said coniform Wall and axially coincident with theconical end, and a head Wall projected away from the chamber by twospaced Walls, of a plug valve securable in the space formed bytheconiform Wall, and a transverse pipe connection securable in oppositeapertures in the chamber Wall, substantially as described.

4. In an ale tap, the combination with a tap stock tapered at one endand sealed thereat, and transversely foraminated near said end, atransverse coniform Wall oppositely slotted near the longitudinal centerof the conical chamber, and reversible therein, substantially 2 5 asdescribed.

JOHN NEUMANN. Witnesses:

WM. P. PATTON, E. M. CLARK.

